PROJECT SUMMARY: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students are the least likely of any minoritized group to complete a bachelor’s degree and bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree attainment has remained the same or decreased since 2000 in both STEM and non-STEM fields. This is despite AI/AN communities facing some of the largest disparities in health outcomes, thus justifying a critical need to train more AI/AN health scientists to improve health equity. The CA- NARCH SDP was established in 2003 and is a partnership between Indian Health Council (IHC), serving 9 regional tribes, and the academic partners of San Diego State University (SDSU), University of California San Diego (UCSD), California Sate University- San Marcos (CSUSM), and Palomar Community College (PCC). The CA-NARCH SDP has significantly addressed gaps in AI/AN academic achievement and has supported 135 students, with 97% being retained in their STEM programs over its 17 year history. Thus far, 10 students have received a PhD, with 18 additional students currently in PhD programs. 28 students have completed masters degrees, and 15 are currently in masters programs. Students are dedicated to working in Indian County and 17 students currently have full time positions in Indian Country; Two students have thus far become faculty members at 4 year universities. The aims of the CA-NARCH SDP include: 1) Identify and recruit AI/AN students in the biomedical and behavioral sciences from community college through graduate school into the CA-NARCH SDP program; 2) Retain AI/AN students in their respective higher education programs and develop and enhance their knowledge, skills, science-self efficacy, and persistence to succeed in STEM programs to successfully matriculate into graduate programs; 3) Engage and provide training for AI/AN students in biomedical and health research to increase their competitiveness for jobs/graduate school and their likelihood of becoming health/science researchers; 4) Increase the cultural interface and competencies of the CA-NARCH students and encourage AI/AN community engagement and trust in research. Centered at IHC, the CA-NARCH SDP has established infrastructure with a SDP team, including a full-time native coordinator (Luiseño), and an established presence and leads on the 4 surrounding campuses. Students are recruited from the 4 campuses, AI/AN organizations, faculty directors of NIH and NSD funded science enrichment programs, and from local tribes. Retention methods are multiple and include engaging students in research through existing NIH and NSF funded program, the CA-NARCH Directed Research (CANDR) program with campus and community based research, and in summer and yearlong research programs. Students receive continual mentorship from the CA NARCH SDP team, develop individual development plans, and will be assigned a cultural mentor who will provide additional guidance to students. Students will all participate in workshops and seminars that will enhance their science skills, provide training in indigenous research methods and that will expose students to established AI/AN researchers working in AI/AN communities. Cultural interface and community trust in research is enhanced by CA-NARCH SDP team and student presentations at community events and through cultural days. Evaluation of the program includes quantitative and qualitative measures and serves to assess program success and enhancement.

PROJECT NARRATIVE: The CA-NARCH Student Development Program will recruit AI/AN students in STEM fields from 3 regional four year universities and a community college and will follow them through their successive academic programs, from community college through doctoral level graduate programs. The purpose of the CA-NARCH SDP is to increase the number of independent AI/AN culturally competent researchers who are committed to addressing highly relevant public health issues within Native communities. CA-NARCH students will gain critical research experience, will receive training in western and indigenous research methods, and will have high interface with local AI communities to increase community engagement and trust in research.